Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
The GST rebate most Canadians mean is the quarterly payment for low and modest incomes, and since July 2026 it’s called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. A single person can get up to $679 a year, a couple up to $890, plus $234 for each child under 19.
Is the GST credit still around?
The name isn’t. The CRA says the GST/HST credit was renamed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit as of July 2026, and that if you were getting the old credit and nothing has changed, you’re likely eligible for the new one because the rules are the same. The last payment under the old name went out on April 2, 2026. The CRA’s GST/HST credit page explains the change.
So if you’re searching for a “GST rebate” cheque, this is what you want. Nobody mails you a refund of the GST you paid at the till. The benefit is a flat-ish payment sized by your family income, meant to offset sales tax costs.
How much can you get?
Amounts for July 2026 to June 2027 are based on your 2025 tax return. The CRA’s maximums are below. The income steps come from our own data file, and we worked out the phase-in and reduction rates from the CRA’s payment chart rather than reading them off a page, so treat the dollar results as estimates.
| Household | Most per year |
|---|---|
| Single adult | $679 |
| Couple | $890 |
| Each child under 19 | $234 |
| Single parent, one child | $1,124 |
The GST/HST credit calculator lets you put in last year’s family income and see your figure. Here’s what it gave us.
| Situation | Family income | Per year | Per payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $20,000 | $613.72 | $153.43 |
| Single, no children | $30,000 | $679.00 | $169.75 |
| Single, no children | $50,000 | $500.60 | $125.15 |
| Couple, two children | $30,000 | $1,358.00 | $339.50 |
| Couple, one child | $60,000 | $445.60 | $111.40 |
| Single, no children | $70,000 | $0 | $0 |
Here’s how to read it. Jess, single and earning $30,000, would see four payments of $169.75 across the year, which adds up to the full $679. It isn’t a windfall, but it’s a few bucks toward groceries every quarter, and it shows up without her asking.
What does a bit more income do to it?
Look at the single person. At $30,000 they get the full $679. At $50,000 it’s $500.60, a drop of $178.40. By $70,000 it has vanished. The benefit doesn’t stop at a cliff. It shrinks as income rises, which is gentler than it sounds until you’ve seen it on your own numbers.
The family row is worth a second look. A couple with one child at $60,000 has a full entitlement of $1,124, but the reduction takes $678.40 of it, leaving $445.60. Higher family income hits harder than people expect.
How do you actually get it?
File your tax return. That’s most of it, and you should do it even with no income. The CRA checks your eligibility when it assesses your return each year, so in most cases you don’t apply. Newcomers are the exception: if you became a resident of Canada, you may need to send Form RC151 for the year you arrived.
You need to be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes at the end of the month before and at the start of the month of payment, and you and your spouse or partner need a social insurance number. Payments come quarterly. We couldn’t confirm every 2027 payment date on a CRA page, so check your CRA account for the exact schedule.
What if you filed late or missed a payment?
The CRA page says a late-filed return can still lead to retroactive payments, and those are issued as Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments. To see what you’ve been paid, sign in to your CRA account and open “Benefits and credits”. If something looks wrong, that’s where to start, before you assume a payment is missing.
Other GST rebates that aren’t this one
Some people searching for a GST rebate are buying a new home. That’s a different thing, a rebate of tax paid on a new build, claimed on a CRA form, and the amounts are much bigger. Our new home rebate estimate covers it. There are also business rebates and credits, and they turn on your registration status and what you bought.
If what you want is to see how much sales tax you paid on something, the GST and HST calculator splits it out. Families may also want the Canada Child Benefit calculator, since both use the same tax return.
Mistakes to avoid
Not filing is the expensive one. No return, no benefit. Another is relying on last year’s numbers: the July 2026 amounts are higher than the $349 per adult the old credit paid in the 2025 to 2026 year. And remember it’s based on the previous year’s income, so a raise this year doesn’t cut your payments until next July.
Sources, and how we checked them
The renaming, eligibility, application rules and maximum amounts come from the Canada Revenue Agency‘s pages on the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, read in September 2026. The income steps are from our data file, and the examples come from our calculator. This is an independent guide, separate from any government body.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GST rebate the same as the GST/HST credit?
For most people, yes. The CRA renamed the GST/HST credit the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit as of July 2026.
How much is the benefit for 2026 to 2027?
Up to $679 for a single person, $890 for a couple and $234 per child under 19, based on your 2025 return.
Do I have to apply?
Usually not. File your tax return each year and the CRA checks your eligibility. New residents may need Form RC151.
When are payments made?
Quarterly, in a payment period that runs from July to June. Check your CRA account for exact dates.
Is there a rebate for GST on a new home?
Yes, but it is a separate rebate claimed by the buyer or builder. It is not the quarterly benefit.
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